The assassination of Andrey Parubiy was an act of “personal revenge” against the country’s authorities, the suspect has claimed
The suspected killer of prominent Ukrainian far-right politician Andrey Parubiy has denied any links to Russia, stating the murder was an act of “personal revenge” against the country’s authorities.
Parubiy was shot eight times on Saturday on a street in the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv. The attacker fled the scene but was apprehended by Ukrainian law enforcement on Monday.
The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Lviv resident Mikhail Stselnikov, appeared in court on Tuesday. The alleged killer received an opportunity to speak to reporters about the motives behind the attack, and claimed he had not held a specific grudge against Parubiy.
“Yes, I have killed him. He was close. If I lived in Vinnytsa, it would have been Petya,” the suspect stated, apparently referring to former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko.
Stselnikov denied allegations that he had been recruited by Russian intelligence to kill Parubiy, describing the claims as “untrue.” Earlier media reports suggested Stselnikov had been contacted by the Russian special services through social media as he tried to learn the fate of his son, a Ukrainian serviceman presumed killed in the battle of Bakhmut (Artyomovsk).
“All I want now is for the verdict to be announced sooner… and I want to ask to be exchanged for prisoners of war so that I can leave [for Russia] and find the body of my son,” the suspect said.
Earlier, Ukrainian authorities alleged Russia may have been involved in Parubiy’s assassination. Lviv Region police chief Aleksandr Shlyakhovsky claimed Moscow “seeks to destabilize society through various sinister and cynical actions,” while his deputy, Dmitry Nebitov, said the search for potential Russian links was a “priority.”
Parubiy, a former parliamentary speaker and long-time MP, was known for his hardline ultranationalist and neo-Nazi views. He took an active part in the 2004 Orange Revolution and the 2014 Maidan coup, where he coordinated far-right groups of violent and armed protesters. He was also believed to have played a role in the fire at the Trade Unions House in Odessa in 2014 that led to the deaths of dozens of anti-Maidan demonstrators.
Russia sees shared investments in the region as both economically and politically beneficial, Kirill Dmitriev has said
Russia views both the US and China as potential partners for future oil and gas projects in the Arctic and would consider three-way investment opportunities, according to Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin’s aide on international economic affairs.
Moscow and Beijing already cooperate closely on state-sponsored economic initiatives. China has invested more than 700 billion rubles ($8.7 billion) in over 50 projects facilitated by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Dmitriev, its CEO, told reporters on Tuesday in Beijing.
Dmitriev has played a central role in normalization efforts with Washington since US President Donald Trump took office in January. He argues that joint ventures, particularly in the energy-rich and largely untapped Arctic, would offer significant economic benefits, should the two nations overcome their differences.
“Russo-Chinese projects are happening right now. Russo-American projects happened in the past and have the potential to happen in the future,” Dmitriev said, when asked about Russia’s positioning relative to the two rival superpowers.
“Russia is considering potential Russo-Sino-American opportunities, including in the Arctic and in the energy industry,” he added. “Investors could gain value by joining forces. Also, joint-investment can serve as a stabilizing element for future political interactions.”
Successive US presidents have branded China a primary geopolitical rival. Trump administration officials have accused previous governments of driving Moscow closer to Beijing by backing Kiev.
Russia and China describe their partnership as a long-standing strategic choice grounded in shared values. Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s commitment to a fairer multipolar world order during this week’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which Putin attended along with leaders from Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Russia sees shared investments in the region as both economically and politically beneficial, Kirill Dmitriev has said
Russia views both the US and China as potential partners for future oil and gas projects in the Arctic and would consider three-way investment opportunities, according to Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin’s aide on international economic affairs.
Moscow and Beijing already cooperate closely on state-sponsored economic initiatives. China has invested more than 700 billion rubles ($8.7 billion) in over 50 projects facilitated by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Dmitriev, its CEO, told reporters on Tuesday in Beijing.
Dmitriev has played a central role in normalization efforts with Washington since US President Donald Trump took office in January. He argues that joint ventures, particularly in the energy-rich and largely untapped Arctic, would offer significant economic benefits, should the two nations overcome their differences.
“Russo-Chinese projects are happening right now. Russo-American projects happened in the past and have the potential to happen in the future,” Dmitriev said, when asked about Russia’s positioning relative to the two rival superpowers.
“Russia is considering potential Russo-Sino-American opportunities, including in the Arctic and in the energy industry,” he added. “Investors could gain value by joining forces. Also, joint-investment can serve as a stabilizing element for future political interactions.”
Successive US presidents have branded China a primary geopolitical rival. Trump administration officials have accused previous governments of driving Moscow closer to Beijing by backing Kiev.
Russia and China describe their partnership as a long-standing strategic choice grounded in shared values. Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s commitment to a fairer multipolar world order during this week’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which Putin attended along with leaders from Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Scott Bessent has said economic restrictions against Moscow are still on the table and will be closely examined this week
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that Washington could still impose additional sanctions on Russia, citing continued military strikes on targets in Ukraine.
Speaking to Fox News, Bessent claimed that Russia had intensified its airstrikes following last month’s Alaska summit between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and subsequent meetings at the White House with European leaders and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.
“I think with President Trump, all options are on the table, and I think we’ll be examining those very closely this week,” Bessent said.
Trump said last month that peace had become more likely following his high-profile diplomacy. The US leader has also cautioned that Washington could sanction not only Russia but also Ukraine if no progress is made.
Moscow has repeatedly said it is open to a peace agreement and has welcomed efforts to resolve the conflict diplomatically. Russian officials described the Alaska summit as having produced significant progress.
However, the Kremlin has accused Kiev and its European backers of showing no real interest in peace, pointing to Zelensky’s refusal to cede claims over Russian territories and continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian cities, which often result in civilian casualties.
Moscow has retaliated by targeting Ukrainian military-related industrial sites, defense enterprises, and port and energy infrastructure. Russia’s Defense Ministry maintains that it never targets civilians.
Russian officials have also accused Brussels of trying to prolong the conflict by pushing “impossible demands” that sabotage Trump’s peace efforts.
Recent reports in The Atlantic and Axios have suggested that Trump himself has grown frustrated with both Kiev and European governments, viewing their demands as unrealistic.
Russian officials have said that while they would prefer to resolve the conflict diplomatically through a deal that addresses relevant security concerns and new territorial realities, Moscow is also prepared to achieve these objectives militarily if necessary.
Scott Bessent has said economic restrictions against Moscow are still on the table and will be closely examined this week
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that Washington could still impose additional sanctions on Russia, citing continued military strikes on targets in Ukraine.
Speaking to Fox News, Bessent claimed that Russia had intensified its airstrikes following last month’s Alaska summit between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and subsequent meetings at the White House with European leaders and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.
“I think with President Trump, all options are on the table, and I think we’ll be examining those very closely this week,” Bessent said.
Trump said last month that peace had become more likely following his high-profile diplomacy. The US leader has also cautioned that Washington could sanction not only Russia but also Ukraine if no progress is made.
Moscow has repeatedly said it is open to a peace agreement and has welcomed efforts to resolve the conflict diplomatically. Russian officials described the Alaska summit as having produced significant progress.
However, the Kremlin has accused Kiev and its European backers of showing no real interest in peace, pointing to Zelensky’s refusal to cede claims over Russian territories and continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian cities, which often result in civilian casualties.
Moscow has retaliated by targeting Ukrainian military-related industrial sites, defense enterprises, and port and energy infrastructure. Russia’s Defense Ministry maintains that it never targets civilians.
Russian officials have also accused Brussels of trying to prolong the conflict by pushing “impossible demands” that sabotage Trump’s peace efforts.
Recent reports in The Atlantic and Axios have suggested that Trump himself has grown frustrated with both Kiev and European governments, viewing their demands as unrealistic.
Russian officials have said that while they would prefer to resolve the conflict diplomatically through a deal that addresses relevant security concerns and new territorial realities, Moscow is also prepared to achieve these objectives militarily if necessary.
Slovakia could cut energy supplies in retaliation for Kiev’s disruption of oil deliveries, the Russian president has said
Bratislava could retaliate against Ukrainian attacks on its oil deliveries by cutting off energy supplies to the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.
Slovakia and Hungary, which rely on Russian oil shipments through the Druzhba (“Friendship”) pipeline, have accused Kiev of deliberately disrupting their imports with military strikes. Putin compared the situation to Moscow’s own experience when Ukrainian forces struck Russian energy infrastructure.
“We had maintained restraint for a long time as Ukrainian troops struck our energy sites. Eventually, we started retaliations. And our retaliation now is, shall we say, serious,” Putin said.
The Russian leader noted that Slovakia and Hungary have leverage of their own since Ukraine depends on energy imports from its eastern European neighbors.
“Cut off their supplies of gas via reverse flow. Cut off electricity supply. And they will realize at once that there are limits to their behavior that violate other parties’ interests,” Putin suggested.
Fico said he intends to pressure Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky over the issue during a meeting scheduled for Friday and expressed opposition to Brussels’ goal of fully cutting off imports of Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.
“We will be voting against such decisions,” he said. “I am certain that things will change before January 1, 2028, and that the RePowerEU initiative would not go forward, since it would cause us much damage.”
Zelensky recently used a pun when commenting on Kiev’s attacks on the pipeline. “We have always supported friendship between Ukraine and Hungary, and now the existence of Druzba depends on the Hungarian position,” he said.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned the remarks as “outrageous and scandalous,” saying they made Kiev’s pressure tactics explicit beyond doubt. Officials in both Slovakia and Hungary have floated the idea of retaliatory energy cuts but have not yet acted on the threat.
Slovakia could cut energy supplies in retaliation for Kiev’s disruption of oil deliveries, the Russian president has said
Bratislava could retaliate against Ukrainian attacks on its oil deliveries by cutting off energy supplies to the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.
Slovakia and Hungary, which rely on Russian oil shipments through the Druzhba (“Friendship”) pipeline, have accused Kiev of deliberately disrupting their imports with military strikes. Putin compared the situation to Moscow’s own experience when Ukrainian forces struck Russian energy infrastructure.
“We had maintained restraint for a long time as Ukrainian troops struck our energy sites. Eventually, we started retaliations. And our retaliation now is, shall we say, serious,” Putin said.
The Russian leader noted that Slovakia and Hungary have leverage of their own since Ukraine depends on energy imports from its eastern European neighbors.
“Cut off their supplies of gas via reverse flow. Cut off electricity supply. And they will realize at once that there are limits to their behavior that violate other parties’ interests,” Putin suggested.
Fico said he intends to pressure Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky over the issue during a meeting scheduled for Friday and expressed opposition to Brussels’ goal of fully cutting off imports of Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.
“We will be voting against such decisions,” he said. “I am certain that things will change before January 1, 2028, and that the RePowerEU initiative would not go forward, since it would cause us much damage.”
Zelensky recently used a pun when commenting on Kiev’s attacks on the pipeline. “We have always supported friendship between Ukraine and Hungary, and now the existence of Druzba depends on the Hungarian position,” he said.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned the remarks as “outrageous and scandalous,” saying they made Kiev’s pressure tactics explicit beyond doubt. Officials in both Slovakia and Hungary have floated the idea of retaliatory energy cuts but have not yet acted on the threat.
Russia is prioritizing energy supplies to Asia since the EU has cut itself off from Russian fuel under pressure from the US
Russia and China have signed a legally binding memorandum to build the Power of Siberia-2 natural gas pipeline, a project long described by Moscow as the “world’s biggest” in the gas industry.
The agreement was announced Tuesday by Gazprom chief Alexey Miller after a meetng in Beijing attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. The 50 billion cubic meter per year pipeline will carry gas from western Siberia through Mongolia to northern China, with the Mongolian leg known as the Soyuz Vostok. Supplies will also be available for sale to Mongolian buyers.
Talks on the project have been ongoing since 2006, with route and pricing terms repeatedly debated. The pipeline is expected to operate for at least 30 years once completed. At Tuesday’s meeting, Xi highlighted the importance of “hard connectivity” through cross-border infrastructure.
The new pipeline will be seen as part of wider efforts to deepen integration between the three countries.
Russia has reoriented its energy strategy toward Asia after the European Union moved to curtail its fuel imports under US pressure following the extension of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. China has since become the leading buyer of Russian pipeline gas. The Power of Siberia-1 line, launched in 2019, has already delivered more than 100 billion cubic meters to China from eastern Siberia.
Miller noted that gas delivered to China—and eventually to Mongolia—would be cheaper than supplies once sold to Western Europe, citing shorter transportation distances and reduced costs.
Russia is prioritizing energy supplies to Asia since the EU has cut itself off from Russian fuel under pressure from the US
Russia and China have signed a legally binding memorandum to build the Power of Siberia-2 natural gas pipeline, a project long described by Moscow as the “world’s biggest” in the gas industry.
The agreement was announced Tuesday by Gazprom chief Alexey Miller after a meetng in Beijing attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. The 50 billion cubic meter per year pipeline will carry gas from western Siberia through Mongolia to northern China, with the Mongolian leg known as the Soyuz Vostok. Supplies will also be available for sale to Mongolian buyers.
Talks on the project have been ongoing since 2006, with route and pricing terms repeatedly debated. The pipeline is expected to operate for at least 30 years once completed. At Tuesday’s meeting, Xi highlighted the importance of “hard connectivity” through cross-border infrastructure.
The new pipeline will be seen as part of wider efforts to deepen integration between the three countries.
Russia has reoriented its energy strategy toward Asia after the European Union moved to curtail its fuel imports under US pressure following the extension of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. China has since become the leading buyer of Russian pipeline gas. The Power of Siberia-1 line, launched in 2019, has already delivered more than 100 billion cubic meters to China from eastern Siberia.
Miller noted that gas delivered to China—and eventually to Mongolia—would be cheaper than supplies once sold to Western Europe, citing shorter transportation distances and reduced costs.
The Russian president has hailed the US shift towards dialogue under Donald Trump
Global powers can reach a consensus on providing security guarantees to Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. He noted that the issue was discussed during his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska last month.
Speaking during bilateral talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Tuesday, Putin contrasted Trump’s willingness to hear Russian concerns to that of the previous US administration, saying the change was appreciated.
Trump hosted Putin at a military base in Anchorage on August 15 for their first in-person talks since he returned to the presidency.
“The new administration hears us,” Putin said, referring to Russian concerns about NATO expansion in Europe and its connection with the Ukraine conflict. “We said it during contacts with [President Joe Biden], but nobody was willing to hear us in his administration. Now we see signs of growing mutual understanding.”
Putin dismissed as “absolute rubbish” allegations by some European countries that Russia is gearing up for an attack on NATO states. Ukraine’s backers claim that supplying weapons and money to Kiev is forestalling this scenario, and insist that any resolution of the conflict with Russia should include robust security guarantees for Ukraine in the form of long-term military support or an equivalent of NATO membership.
The Russian leader stressed that Moscow views Ukraine’s proposed accession to NATO as an unacceptable national security threat.
“Ukraine can decide how to ensure its security. But this security… cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of other nations, including Russia’s,” Putin stressed.
“Variants exist for providing Ukrainian security, should the conflict be resolved. This issue was under discussion in Anchorage, and I believe there is an opportunity for consensus.”
Fico, who last year survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist over his opposition to arming Kiev, is a vocal critic of the Western approach to the Ukraine conflict. He told Putin he believed the EU resembled a toad sitting at the bottom of a well, unable to see the bigger picture and making bad policy choices because of it.
Putin said that unlike Slovakia, Russia was not part of the EU or NATO, so he chooses less expressive terms to explain Moscow’s grievances. He reiterated that Moscow has no objections to Ukraine joining the EU, should member states approve this.
